Automatic optical-axis adjusting device for automatically adjusting directions of optical axes of front lights with respect to steering angle of steering wheel

• US 20020040281A1
• Filed: 10/02/2001
• Published: 04/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamada, Yuji, Miki, Yoshiyuki, Ohashi, Kunio, Okuchi, Hiroaki
• Granted Patent: US 6,671,640 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/151
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/12 due to steering position
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/122 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/124 Steering speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/128 Steering dead zone

Abstract

A filter is changed to change a response in swivel adjustment of a direction of an optical axis of each swivel light based on a steering angle variation of a steering angle of a steering wheel measured with a steering angle sensor. The direction of the optical axis of each swivel light is adjusted based on a swivel control angle obtained upon application of the filter. A weaker filter is selected if the steering wheel is quickly steered, and a stronger filter is selected if the steering wheel is slowly steered. By this filtering operation, the direction of the optical axis of each swivel light is adjusted in response to the steering operation of the steering wheel without causing an uncomfortable feeling to a driver.

Claims

1. An automatic optical-axis adjusting device for automatically adjusting a direction of an optical axis of at least one front light of a vehicle, said automatic optical-axis adjusting device comprising:

a steering angle measuring means for measuring a steering angle of a steering wheel of said vehicle;

a response changing means for changing a response in swivel adjustment of said direction of said optical axis of said at least one front light of said vehicle based on an angular positional change rate of said steering angle measured with said steering angle measuring means; and

a swivel control means for adjusting said direction of said optical axis of said at least one front light with respect to said steering angle measured with said steering angle measuring means based on a control angle obtained through said response changing means.

2. An automatic optical-axis adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein said response changing means changes said response by changing a filter.

3. An automatic optical-axis adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein said steering angle measuring means sets an insensible region around a neutral point of said steering angle.

4. An automatic optical-axis adjusting device according to claim 2, wherein said control angle is obtained by filtering said steering angle measured with said steering angle measuring means through said filter.

5. An automatic optical-axis adjusting device according to claim 2, wherein:

said filter is selected from a group consisting of a weaker filter and a stronger filter;

said weaker filter is selected when said angular positional change rate of said steering angle exceeds a predetermined threshold value; and

said stronger filter is selected when said angular positional change rate of said steering angle does not exceed said predetermined threshold value.